Refrigerator display case



Aug. 5, 1930. J. E. GLOEKLER EFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE Fild Nov. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lll-III v INVENToR www( a.

Aug- 5; 1930- .1. E. GLOEKLER 1,771,998

REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE Patented ug. A5, 1930 UNITED srrss JOHN EDWARD GLOEKLER, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA `REFIRilGrEl'JELAIJOR DISPLAY CASE Application filed November 3, 1928.-' Serial No. 316,955.

'The object which l have in view is to improve and strengthen 'the construction of refrigerator display cases. y n

ne of the novel features of my invention is the improved means for supporting the top closure of the casewithout the employment of interior supports or posts.

Another feature is the Hoor structure of the case.

Anotherv feature is the novel top closure structure ofthe case.

f Other novel features also of arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings,'Fig. 1 is a sectional perspective of a refrigerator dis-` play case .embodying` my present invention; lig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing one of the truss braces and its relation to associated parts; Fig. 3 isfafreduced perspective showing one of the front corners of the case; Fig. 4 is broken section taken on the line IV-,

IV in Fig. 3 `and on enlarged scale; Fig. 5

is an inverted plan view ofthe corner cap plate also shown in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig.' 6 is f a broken sideelevation 'of .the corner reinforcing guard; Fig. 7 is a section taken along lthe line VII-VII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a4 plan view of the type of cap plate employed with the intermediate reinforcing guards; Fig.y

9 is a sectional View taken along and looking upwardly from the line IX-IX in Fig. 2,

and Fig. 10 .is a detail' showing .the cornerl brace in plan.

the drawings.

1 is a horizontal floory supported from be-V low'by the base 2 of the case. At lthe front4 and rear of the floor are; secured the super- 40 imposed sills 3 and 4, said sills being connected together at spaced intervals by the trans versely disposed joist y5.y TheA tops of the joist 5 and the rear sill 4 are'in the same planev but that of the frontsill 3 is on a higher y The top surface of thel cleat l.is in .the same 3 and the cleat 7, and which formsv the loadof construction, Vand The vfollowing is a detailed descriptionV ofY horizontal plane as the top surface of the sill 3. A sheet 8 of galvanized metal* covers the sills, joist, cleat and insulation, being bent to conform to the top surfaces of the same, and thus preventing the downward entrance of moisture. i f

7 9 represents the opalescent glass or marble slabs which are supportedrby the frontsillk bearing surface of the case. Diiiiculty is experienced when these slabs y are laid on a continuous surface or plane, as

the slabs are usually not perfectly flat and their tendency is to crack. Byproviding elevated supports forthe slabs atfront'andrear l prevent cracking, and I also'obtainanpair space or chamber beneath the slabs which has f a material insulating value. f :.1

represents the transversely disposed, metal truss-frames which arepositioned at proper intervals'to support the superstruc-v ture ofthe case. l Said frames `are provided with inturned feet lOfwhich lit down into notches 10et in," .i

and are attached to the` front and rear sills.

' The rfront of each frame A. is composed of a vertical portion 1l fromr whose upper end extends rearwardly the horizontal portion 12,

merging into theY rearwardly and down-V y horizontal portion 14 whose rear end merges into vthe rear, vertical :portions lvwhichex'- tend downr in the rear of'the'sill The floor slabs ,9 are notched to provide clearance' for the frames A, andtheir front "edgesareVv flush with the fronts of the'frames.

16 is afront plate, which maybe of wood-,Af i

and which'extends up above the sill 3 so as toform a slot between it and thefront edge of the slabs 9 and into which the bottomedge of the plate glass front plates 17 is stepped. 18 represents the plate glass front top plates, which are supported ronfthey horizontal portions 12 of the frames A., overlapping the top edge of the verticalplates vl17, and also ex tending rearwar ly .somewhatibeyond'the portions 12 of the frames A. Atriangular metalor wooden filler 19 is 'mountedfon the' portions 13 of the frameto aid in supporting the plate 18, and beyond which the plates 18 extend rearwardly overhanging the frames.

The front plates 17 are alined end to end, the open joints coinciding with the frames Af which support their ends from within. rlhe top plates 18 abut snugly end to end, their joints also coincidingv with the frames A which support their ends trom below.

rlhe following is the means provided for clamping adjacent iront plates and the top plates in position. n

20, Figs. 1, 2 and 9, is a vertically disposed bar of substantially the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 9 and provided with lugs 21 near its ends which extend partway rear` wardly between the adjacent ends of the front plates 17 and have threaded stems entending through holes in the vertical portions 11 of the frames A. Nuts are screwed up on said stems to snugly clamp the glass 'olates between bars 20 and the trames. .lpreer to interpose felt between glass and metal whereever they impinge, as shown at 23, `tor the double purpose of making a tight joint and to obviate any danger of cracking the plates under clamping pressure,` "We upper ends .Lilo of the bars 20 have outwardly extending platforms 24 which are downwardly notched, as shown in dotted lines Lat 25 in Fig. 9. 2G are angular caps whose horizontal top portions .lit down on the abutting corners ot the top plates V18 and whose shirts 27 lit down over the front ot the platforms 211 of the bars 20. The caps 2G are also `provided with depending bosses 28 which .tit down into the notches'25, and 2S' are screws extending up through holes in the platforml and screwed into threaded holes SOin bosses 28. yl`hus the plates are clamped in proper position.

The ends of the case are formed ot plate glass plates 31 whose front vertical edges form right angles with the .iront plates 17, said angles however being gapped to give clearance for the corner bars. The top plates 18 rest upon the tops of the plates 81 and slightly overhang the same at the ends of the case. v

The glass plates at the corners of the case are clamped together in the following man-- ner.

32arepresents a vertically disposed corner bar oit Ytriangular, cross sectional shape, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to tit over the adjacent edges of the plates 17 and 31. Said bar is provided with rearwardly extending lugs 33 cornerfrom within. Nuts 35 are then screwed onto said pins, thus clamping the side and front plates together.

The upper end of the bar 32 is provided with a forwardly extending platform 36 proV vided with a notch 37 in its upper surface.

-panel 56.

' front edges o V38 is a cap whose topV portion tits down on the corner ol the top plate 18 and whose triangular skirt lits down in front of the plates 17 and 31. Said cap is provided with a depending boss 39 which seats in the notch 37 and a screw Ll() is inserted up through a hole in the Hoor ot said notch and screwed into a threaded hole l2 in said boss.

V'lhe caps 26 and 38 have their under faces lined with 'le t to prevent contact of metal to glass.

"l'he Vbar 82has av rearwardly extending bracket L13 provided with a threaded hole in which screw Lll is engaged. The screw 44 attaches to the bar 32 the 'front end or" a brace all* whose rear end is attached as by the screw i413 to the end ot the j oist 15. Thus the l'front corners are properly strengthened.

lo is a wooden or metal joist or molding mounted as by screws on the portions 13 ofthe frames A. and interlitting with the rear edges or" the top plates 18.- The molding is provided with a telt surtace L16 upon which the plateslS bear. 7 is asecond joist or 1noldingparallel with the molding 15 but mounted at the lower ends of the portions 13 of the 'frames A.. The moldings are provided with bottom flanges 48 upon which are slidably mounted the lower doors B, while the upper doors C are provided with lips L.t9 which slide on the tops of the moldings. 50 represents iiller strips mounted on the 'frames between the moldings.

VThe rear wall oit the case is preferably of he following construction.

is a bottom sill mounted on the lioor 1 in the rear of the sill l, and which is notched to provide clearance tor the trames A. 52 is a top bar similarly notched. Vertical posts 523- are provided at suitable intervals, con-V necting sill 51 and bar 52, and the rectangular spaces delined by the sill, bar and posts are lilled with .cork or some other heat-insa later material as shown at 511. 'The sill 51 and the top bar `52 are attached to the trames A, as by screws. 5:3 'is an inclosure ol' galvanized .sheet metal which covers the inner facesV of the sills `and posts and theinsulating material, and which extends over the top of the .top bar 51 and extends down. on the outside to the bottom edge oi the door 1,'thus sealing the insulation against the entrance ot moisture. The exterior bach Awall may be a 57 represents wooden or metal lids which are employed to inclose the top ot the case in the rear ot the sliding kdoors B and C. lf desiredthe lids may be heldinplace byscrews, 58 represents a board which is liXed in place and extends rearwardly to torni asupport for a cash re is'ter, scales or the like. rlhe supported by'thelip 59 of the molding 47.

'fit the ends wooden closureltt) is provided and in ,iront of the same `the vertical t the lids 57 andthe board 58 are i lll) lli)

molding member 6l attached to the end of the top molding l? and which receives the rear edge oi' the glass end plate 3l. 62 is an inclined molding connecting the top of the ends the molding 45 and 47 and engaging the inclined top edge of the plate 3l.

The interior of the case in the rear of the floor slabs 9 forms the refrigerating chamberl which may be occupied by the horizontally y disposed brine' pipes 63 which are shown mounted in a rack 64.

Frequently'ice and salt are employed as refrigerant. ril`hus I may place in the rear portion of the case a tank or tanks 65 to contain such refrigerante, the latter being replenished by removing the lids 57. The tanks are removable through said lid openings.

W here tanks are employed, the latter should be spared forwardly from the rear wall of the case to provide for a free circulationoi air.

Y ing of the tanks away from the rear wall l .1, vibration.

rlChe slabs 9 provide an ornamental and etlicient floor upon whichthe articles to be displayed or their containersmay be, placed. The method of supporting the ioor Aslabs not only prevents their cracking, but also provides an'air space beneath the same which aids in refrigeration.

The rearl wall and floor of the case are well insulated, so that the contents of the case may be lrept at proper temperature at relatively slight expenditure 'of refrigerant, either in the form of piped brine or contained in tanks.

What I desire to claim is: l I 1. In a display case, the combination of a floor structure including front and rear sillsA having notches therein, a plurality of spaced apart trusseframes, each of said frames con sisting of an integral metallic member comrising verticalv portions at front and rear attached at their basesvto the floor structure in the notches of said sills and top portions connecting said vertical portions, a lfront wall mounted against the front vertical portions ot said truss-frames, a rear wall mounted against their rear vertical portions, and a top closure supported by their intermediate portions.

2. VIn a display case, the combination 01": a floor structure including front and rear sills having notches therein, a plurality or spaced To insure the proper position.-L

vfloor `apart'truss-rames,"each ot said; frames con"` sistmg of anmtegral metallic member comprismg vertical portions at iront ,and rear attached at theirbases to the floor structure in the notches of said `sills and top portionsjconnecting said vertical portions, a front Vwall comprised of glass plates clamped tothe front vertical portions of said truss-frames, a rear wall attached to the rear vertical portions ot said truss-frames, and a top closure v mounted on the intermediate' portions of said truss-trames.

3; ln a display case, the combination of a i-loor structure including front and rearsill's having'notches therein, a plurality of spaced i apart truss-frames, 'each of said i'rames'co'nsistingV of an integral metallic member comprising vertical portions at front and rear at'- tached at their bases tothe iioor structure in the notches of said sills, and the intermediate tions. y' l o ,t r

t. Ll. ln a display case, the combination oity al structure including front and rear sills having,notchesthereim a plurality ot spaced apart truss-frames, each joiv said vframesv ,consisting 'oit' an integral .metallic membericomprising vertical portions V'at front andrear attached at their bases tothe floor structure in the `notches of said sills, and theintermediate portions of saidjtruss-frames being provided with horizontal portions at the front and rear connected by rearwardlyand downwardly inclined portions, top closures mounted on saidhorizontal portions, and sliding closures mounted on said inclined portions, and Jfront and rear walls attached to said Vvertical portions.

5. ln a display case, the combination of a loor structure including front and rear sills having notches therein, a plurality of spaced apart truss-frames, each ofy said frames consisting ot an integral metallic' member comprising verticalportions at front and rear attached at their bases to the floor 1 structure in the notches of said sills, and the intermediate portions oi said 'truss-frames being provided with horizontal portions at the front and rear connected by rearwardly and downwardly inclined portions, glass plates mounted on said front horizontal portions, lids mounted on said rear Vhorizontalportions, and sliding closures mounted on said inclined portions, and front and rear walls attached'to said vertical portions.

6. In a display case, the combination of a floor structure including front and rear sills having notches therein, a plurality of spaced yapart truss-frames, each ofvsaid frames consisting of an integral metallic membercomand rear walls mounted on the vertical poriin prising vertical front and rear portions attached at their bases to the Hoor struct-ure in the notches of said sills and the intermediate portions of said truss-:trames being formed of front horizontal portions, rear horizontal portions and downwardly and rearwardly inclined portions connecting the same, a longitudinally disposed joist connecting said truss-framesA at the 'liront ends of said inclined portions, a joist connecting said frames at the rear ends of said inclined portions, front, rear and end walls Jfor said case, glass plates mounted on the front, horizontal portions of said truss-frames, lids mounted on the rear and sliding closures mounted between said joists.

7. In a refrigerator display case,sa fraining consisting of a floor structure including longitudinally disposed sills at front and rear, a plurality of spaced apart truss-frames, each of said frames comprising an integral metallic member having Vertical portions at front and rear whose lower Aends are attached Ito said sills, a horizontal portion extending rearwardly from the front vertical portion,

affsecond horizontal portion extending forwardly from the rear Vertical portion, and upwardly inclined portions connectlngsaid horizontal portlons, and ]o1sts connecting the corresponding ends of the inclined portionsV of the several frames.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this lst day of November, 1928.

JOHN EDVARD GLOEKLER. 

